TNT
The Power List/ Fresher Column Name: Andrew Payne Age: 22 Course: Graduated Sociology and Politics last year
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Andrew took over as Editor of Trinity News having been Sports Features editor for a year. As Editor he’s overseen a shift to the paper breaking news stories rather than just reporting them, as well as getting rid of all the worthy but dull pages that used to clog up TN. The News team headed by John Lavelle, in particular have come in for praise from many quarters. All round nice guy Andrew is the man who decides what ultimately goes in the 5,000 circulation TN, and as such makes number 4 on our list.
Name: Niall Hughes Age: 21 Course: Economics and Politics
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For many students the SU Ents Officer is the only position that they care about within the Union - as long as the nights out and cheap booze keep appearing then all’s well. Niall has done well, with major successes including the two Mystery Trips, the Gigs and Giggles in the Ed Burke and negotiating with MCD to secure Ocean Colour Scene for the Trinity Ball (but let’s not mention RAG Week or the upping in price of Ball tickets). Based on his major role this year, the easy going Celbridge man is our No. 3
Name: John Mannion Age: 22 Course: Graduated History last year
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In the year since becoming SU President it is not an exaggeration to say that John has radically transformed the role. Rather than being confined to his office in House 6 he’ll walk around campus, always ready for a chat. He’ll let you know EXACTLY what he thinks of Council and the hacks that dominate it. This outspokenness seems to carry through to meetings with college staff, which is no bad thing either - it underlines his dedication to the Union. However in the absence of any major results for the time being, he’ll have to settle for No. 2 on the list...
Name: Joe O’Gorman Age: 30something Course: PhD in Philosophy
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True power isn’t about the position you hold but about how you wield it. Thus Joe O’Gorman may be ‘just’ the Honorary Treasurer of the CSC, in reality he is the head honcho of society life on campus. All major decisions go by him and in truth, nothing happens on campus that he doesn’t know about, planned in advance or else decided that he didn’t need to know about. Having divided his time in Trinity between Publications, CSC and even a (failed) bid for the SU Presidency, it’s no surpise that Joe is TCD’s Most Powerful Student.
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The Fresher Column Jason Robinson is unimpressed by his first Student Union elections First up, for any Fresher, or indeed any student out there who reads this article, I have to apologise to you. The purpose (well it started out as such) of this column is to give a somewhat average account of one Freshers experience of college life. Not too much waffling about the gallons of booze he/she drank Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc, or indeed a list of all the guys/girls the columnist hooked up with. Just a mix of work and play, with waffle in between. However, it seems I am some kind of idiot who just doesn’t want to have fun. It’s bad enough not doing enough work (or good, whichever way you look at it), but no play just makes it that much worse.
The recent SU elections were riveting, weren’t they? What’s that? They were EXTREMELY boring? Recently I had the chance to go to a fancy dress 21st- didn’t go. The chance to go have a nice, competitive game of football with some friends- didn’t go. The chance to go to see The Strokes - I think you’ve guessed it - didn’t go…And all for some stupid essays and work. So to anybody who happens to read this and actually likes it, if you see me around college feel free to give me a dirty look or scornful glance, especially for the last crime. Dear God, giving away tickets for The Strokes…shameful…Anyway. Moving on. The recent S.U. elections were riveting, weren’t they? What’s that? They were EXTREMELY boring? Why yes. What else do I hear you say? By and large all the candidates seemed to sound as wooden as Enda Kenny (or Pat for that matter)? Why yes, yes they did. However, I’ll be honest with you all - I made a rather strange decision for my vote for S.U. president. Disregarding any respect I’d lose from my peers (that is, if I had any beforehand), and out of spite for the dire spectacle that was the S.U. elections, I decided not to “Quinn to Win”, not to choose the “top man”, but to go for the most controversial candidate of the lot, John McGuirk. Why the hell would a big leftie, Green Party member do this? Well, firstly I thought it’d be funny. Secondly, I thought he
might actually do a good job (despite the fact that most people seem to be of the opinion that he is the Antichrist and/or a serial killer), and thirdly, being far too bored for my own good, thought it might spice up college life that little bit. But alas, it seems pretty boys are in and controversy is out. Spoil my fun why don’t you… So should I start my campaign for the S.U. now? Get in ahead of the rest of the pack? Sure why not. “Let’s have fun with Robinson”- corny but okay. “Jason likes tight shorts and hot chicks”- doesn’t rhyme, but should get me the rugger bugger vote. “Jason’s a man and likes fake tan”- there’s the BESS girl vote…Somehow, I think I might have to work on those… And speaking of my last slogan, I also have to apologise to all the BESS girls (especially my die hard fans amongst them). I know by now, you “guise” probably think I’m constantly taking the piss out of you lot, but I’m not, I swear. It’s just, how will I put it…with that certain je ne sais quoi that you all bring to college life, I just can’t resist talking about you all. So, to cut a long story short, I’m really, really sorry I missed the BESS ball. I had planned to go (had my dress and fake tan all ready), but alas, there’s was an emergency at home and I couldn’t make it. Sorry. Maybe next time, if you all want me there? Maybe not…I’m sure it didn’t match the CRAZY History ball however…ahem…it wasn’t mediocre, I swear. Now, to further my misogynistic exploits, I recently saw a poster advertising an upcoming run of “The Vagina Monologues” in Spirit, being performed during the next few months. For all you ladies out there, I’d definitely recommend going (you know, for female empowerment and all that), but guys, I’d be wary. After attending a rather surreal Amnesty International Youth Conference last year, Eve Ensler and The Vagina Monologues scare me. In a room with around 50 or so girls, and being one of 3 or 4 guys, being told to become a “Vagina Warrior” and further the female cause just sounded like a form of perverted behaviour on my part. Being high on the sex offenders list wasn’t in my “to-do list” and isn’t now.